Recount upholds election result in board of education race

A recount in the Colon Community Schools Board of Education election race has not changed the outcome.

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By Terry Katzkatz@sturgisjournal.com

Sturgis Journal - Sturgis, MI

By Terry Katzkatz@sturgisjournal.com

Posted Dec. 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Terry Katzkatz@sturgisjournal.com

Posted Dec. 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Colon

A recount in the Colon Community Schools Board of Education election race has not changed the outcome.

Deborah Bordner defeated incumbent Eric Wagner by 10 votes, rather than four as originally thought. The term is for six years.

The final vote, verified after a recount Thursday at the Colon Township Hall was Bordner, 1,018; Wagner, 1,008.

It took nearly 3 1/2 hours for representatives of three townships — Colon, Sherwood and Matteson — to complete the recount.

Sherwood and Matteson townships are in Branch County. In Sherwood Township, Bordner received 118 votes and Wagner, 120.

In Matteson Township, the vote count was Bordner, 91; Wagner, 116.

Bordner, who had 601 votes before the recount, finished with 602.

But Wagner, who had 543 votes in the initial tally, wound up with 538 votes in Colon.

“My best guess for the difference in votes were possible stray marks on the ballot that were picked up by the read heads up on the tabulator,” said county clerk Pattie Bender.

Bender said this was the first time she had a recount involving three municipalities in two counties.

With large cans and boxes full of ballots being hauled into the township hall, the recount activity filled the meeting room and spilled into the Colon Township supervisor’s office. After the recount, containers had to be resealed in the presence of election officials.

Bender was accompanied by Phyllis Lung, deputy clerk. Also assisting were members of the St. Joseph County Board of Canvassers.

Bordner and Wagner watched the entire process.

“It’s not that I have anything against my opponent (Bordner),” Wagner said. “I don’t think the process is reliable.”

“Our families have been friends for a long time,” Bordner said. “I was Eric’s teacher in Middle School.”

As Bordner and Wagner waited, they talked at length about school activities.

Wagner said it’s possible he may run for a school board seat again in two years.